Vise

ABSTRACT

A vise having a fixed base upon which is mounted a framework which is capable of being locked in any angular position relative to the base. The framework includes a fixed jaw and carries a slide and a turret rotatable upon the slide. The turret is capable of being locked in a plurality of positions corresponding to the successive alignment of movable jaw faces with the fixed jaw. A screw equipped with a conical head is rotated by a locking lever to successively tighten and loosen the turret relative to the slide. The locking lever simultaneously acts upon a cam carried by a spring biased locking finger to engage the locking finger within a recess in the turret when the screw is tightened and to disengage the locking finger from a recess when the screw is loosened.

Lambert Oct. 28, 1975 VISE [76] Inventor: Raoul Pascal Lambert, 30,avenue Jean Jaures, 91480 Quincy-sous-Senart, France 22 Filed: Mar. 21,1974 21 Appl. No.: 453,429

[30] I Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 23, 1973 France 73.10681[52] US. Cl 269/76; 74/813 L; 269/82; 269/279 [51] Int. Cl. B23B 29/28;B25B 1/24 [58] Field of Search 269/70, 76, 82-85, 269/203, 279; 82/36 A;74/826, 813 L [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 999,978 8/1911Fisher 269/82 X 1,227,486 5/1917 Newman et al.... 82/31 2,107,635 2/1938Junkermann 269/76 2,474,675 6/1949 .lankowski r. 74/826 X 3,136,0306/1964 Jarrett 82/36 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 294,798 2/1954Switzerland 269/279 Primary ExaminerRoy Lake Assistant Examiner-NeilAbrams Attorney, Agent, or FirmWeiser, Stapler & Spivak 57 ABSTRACT Avise having a fixed base upon which is mounted a framework which iscapable of being locked in any angular position relative to the base.The framework includes a fixed jaw and carries a slide and a turretrotatable upon the slide. The turret is capable of being locked in aplurality of positions corresponding to the successive alignment ofmovable jaw faces with the fixed jaw. A screw equipped with a conicalhead is rotated by a locking lever to successively tighten and loosenthe turret relative to the slide. The locking lever simultaneously actsupon a cam carried by a spring biased locking finger to engage thelocking finger within a recess in the turret when the screw is tightenedand to, disengage the locking finger from a recess when thescrew isloosened.

15 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct.28, 1975 Sheet 1 of33,915,443

US. Patent Oct.28, 1975 Sheet2of3 3,915,443

US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,915,443 I 13 e 12 ju 11 VISEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally tothe field of machine tools, and more particularly, is directed to. anovel vise including a plurality of clamping faces.

Vises are already known which basically consist of a base, fixed inrotation, on which is mounted, movable in rotation, an orientableframework which can be immobilized in all relative positions by means ofa locking member. This framework comprises a fixed jaw and is providedwith a slide-block on which is displaced in translation a slidecontrolled by a longitudinal screw. The slide is fitted with a turret,of polygonal form, mounted rotatively with respect to said slide, sothat any one of its faces can be brought selectively into a planeparallel to the fixed jaw. The turret is immobilized with respect to theslide, in any position, by means of a locking finger subjected to theaction of a resilient member. The upper end of the locking fingerpenetrates into any one of a number of blind holes with which the turretis provided, the position of these holes corresponding to the alignmentof one of the faces of the turret with the fixed jaw of the framework.

The member for locking'and unlocking the turret with respect to theslide generally consists, on one hand, of a lever located on the righthand side of the vise, and on the other hand, of a second lever, locatedon the left hand side of this same vise, which serves to retract thelocking finger. These two levers, which project on both sides of thevise, constitute a considerable hindrance, particularly during sawingoperations. For these levers are often damaged by the saw, since theyproject with respect to the lateral faces of the vise. In addition, themember for locking the orientable framework with respect to the base,fixed in rotation, is generally constituted by a threaded rod screwinginto a blind hole of the base after having passed through the framework.This member is generally inaccessible and undoubtedly hinders theoperator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the fieldof vises and more particularly is directed to a vise having a fixed jawand a rotary jaw and wherein the rotary jaw is provided with a pluralityof clamping faces.

This invention relates to a vise of the above type characterized in thatthe turret is connected to the slide by means of a screw with a conicalhead which is integral with an angularly displacablelocking lever. Thelever acts on a cam which is provided with a locking finger which issubject to the action of a resilient member. The finger, when in thelocked position of the turret, is engaged in a recess. The displacementof the locking lever simultaneously causes either the locking finger toretract and the screw with the conical head to unscrew to allow theturret to rotate freely, or to tighten the screw and raise the lockingfinger to lock the turret with respect to the slide.

According to a characteristic feature of the invention, the turret isprovided with a conicalrecess which acts as a seat for the head of thelocking screw. The lower end of the locking screw is screwed into athreaded, blind hole of the slide. The body of the screw is providedwith a radial orifice which-engages the end of the locking lever. Thelocking lever is immobilized in this orifice by a needle screw. vThelever acts on the inclined ramp of a cam which is capable of retractingunder the compressive force of a spring, and pulling the locking finger,integral with the cam, into the high position.

According to another characteristic feature of the invention, the slideis provided with a blind orifice in which the locking finger engages andis mounted resiliently. The upper end of the finger, in its highposition, protrudes at the level of the slide and penetrates into anyone of the orifices with which the turret is provided. The respectiveposition of these orifices corresponds to the alignment of one of thefaces of the turret with the fixed jaw of the framework.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved vise ofthe type set forth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a'novel visewhich includes a-fixed jaw and a movable' jaw, the movable jaw beingequipped with a rotatable turret to present any one of a plurality offaces in parallel juxtaposition to the fixed jaw.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel viseincluding a fixed jaw, a movable jaw equipped with a rotatable turretand means to lock the turret in any one of a plurality of angularlyoffset positions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel visethat is rugged in construction, inexpensive in manufacture and troublefree when in operation. 1

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had byreferring to the following description and claims of a preferredembodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the vise,partly in elevation and partly in section.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along Line AA of FIG. 1, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the device, looking from. the leftof FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Althoughspecific terms are used in the following description for the sake ofclarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particularstructure of my invention selected for illustration in the drawings, andare not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the vise consists of a base 1 providedwith a plate 2 in which are pierced holes 3 for the passage of securingmembers for immobilizing the base. The base 1 includes a cylindricalsocket 4 on which the orientable framework 5 of the vise turns. Theframework 5 is provided with a fixed jaw 6 which is equipped with a jawface 7 fastened by the screw 8. The upper part of the base 1 is providedwith a trapezoidal groove 9 (FIG. 3) which serves to lock the frameworkin all the relative positions with respect to the base. This locking isobtained, according to the invention, by means of a screw 10 providedwith a control knob 11. The end 12 of the screw 10 cooperates with theside 13 of the groove 9 of the base, so that by tightening the screw andmoving it in the direction of the arrow F the screw tends to clamp verytightly the annular shoulder 14 against the front face 15 of theframework. This force is exerted in the direction of the arrow Fl (FIG.3).

The framework 5 additionally is provided with a slide-block with adovetail 16 on which the slide 17 of the base 18 (FIG. 2) is movable.The base 18 is provided with an additional dovetail 19 and ,moves intranslatory motion, the translatory movement of the slide being obtainedby means of the control screw 20. The screw 20 connects to the head 21which bears on the front face 22 of .the orientable framework 5, thescrew being rotated by a grip 23 engaged in thishead. The screw .20 isfixed in translation with respect to the framework 5 by a ring 24 whichis integral with the screw by means of a pin 25. V

The slide 17 is provided with a bronze sleeve 26 embedded in the recess27, made in the slide, the sleeve being provided with a bore 28, intowhich the control screw 20 penetrates. The slide 17 is provided at itsupper part witha rounded boss 29 on which the turret 30 turns,preferably through 360. The turret 30 has a polygonal form, for examplesquare, and comprises on at least one of its four faces 31, a movablejaw 32. All of the other faces 31 may have different profiles to enableparts of various shapes to be clamped. According to the invention, theturret 30 is locked in one of its four (or more) positions correspondingto the alignment of one of its faces 31 with the fixed jaw 6 of theframework, by means, of a screw 33 and by a locking projection 35. Thescrew 33 includes a conical head 34 which is preferably masked by acover 33.

In more detail, the turret is provided with a conical orifice 36 whichserves as a seat for the head 34 of the locking screw 33. The end 37 ofthe locking screw 33 is screwed into a threaded, blind hole 38 of theslide 17. The body of the screw 33 is provided with a radial orifice 39,in which engages the end 40 of the locking lever 41. The locking lever41 is made integral with the screw 33 by a needle screw 42 which passesthrough the head of the screw 33 and penetrates into the recess 43 withwhich the end of thelo'cking lever is provided. The slide 17 includes ablind orifice 44, slightly inclined, in which lodges a locking finger45. The locking finger 45 is subjected to the action of a compressionspring 46 which exerts a compressive force on the finger 45. The lockingfinger 45 (FIG. 2) is integral with the locking projection and with acam 47 which has an inclined ramp 48. The cam serves to retract thelocking finger 45 by cooperating with the lever 41 which is displaceableangularly.

In the locked position of the turret, the finger 45 is in the highposition, as shown in FIG. 2, so that its locking projection 35 engagesin one of the angularly offset blind orifices 49 of the turret 30, toimmobilize the turret to prevent rotation. Likewise, in this positionthe conical screw 33 is locked in the orifice 38 of the slide, so thatthe turret is forced against the slide by interaction ofthe conicalsurfaces 34, 36.

When the lever 41, integral with the screw 33, is displaced angularly,the screw unlocks partially, and at the same time retracts the lockinglever 45 which, in retracting, compresses the spring 46. This retractionis effected by means of the lever 41 which slides (Arrow G) (FIG. 2) onthe inclined ramp 48 of the cam 47 and thus forces the locking finger todisengage from a blind orifice 49 of the turret.

Under these conditions, the turret is no longer integral with the slide,and can turn freely, so that the operator can bring any one of its frontfaces 31 opposite the fixed jaw 6 of the orientable, framework. When thelever 41 is displaced toward the right (arrow G1) the locking finger 45is freed, so that the spring 46 in expanding returns the finger to itshigh position until the locking projection 35 penetrates into one of theblind holes 49 of the turret 30. Simultaneously, the displacement of thelever 41 drives in its angular course the screw 33, which is integralwith it, so that it screws into the threaded orifice of the slide, thusimmobilizing the turret with respect to the latter.

The design of the assembly enables the turret to be locked or unlockedwith respect to the slide in a simple and convenient manner, without anylever protruding with respect to the two lateral facesof the vise, sincethe locking lever 41 in all cases is substantially in alignment with thevise, its angular course not allowing it to protrude on either side ofthis vise.

It will also be observed that the construction of the present inventionpermits the turret 30 to be clamped in any rotative position relative tothe base 1, and the invention is not limited to aligning one of theturret jaws 32 in parallel relation to the fixed jaw face 7. It isequally possible to stop the turret 30 in any desired rotative positionby means of the lever 41 and the screw 33. By turning the lever in thedirection of the arrow G1 with the turret 30 in an. intermediateposition, the screw 33 can be turned to clamp the turret with the jaws 6and 32 out of parallel alignment so as to permit the clamping ofnon-rectilinear pieces. In such an angularly offset position, it will benoted that the locking projection 35 will not align with and seat withina blind orifice and that the locking finger will ride downwardly in theblind orifice 44 to compress the spring 46.

Of course, the invention relates to only one preferred mode ofembodiment, on the basis of which other forms-and means of embodimentcan be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a vise including a fixed base and a framework affixed to the basewherein the framework carries a fixed jaw, the combination of A. a slidemovable over the framework relative to the fixed jaw,

B. a turret rotatably mounted on the slide,

1. said turret including 'a plurality of movable jaws,

2. said movable jaws being angularly offset one from the other,

3. said turret having at least one blind orifice;

C. screw means to clamp the turret to the slide in any angularlyoriented position;

D. lever means associated with the screw means to rotate the screw meansin either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction for turret clampingand unclamping actions, respectively, said lever means being rotatablein either direction relative to the slide; and

E. locking finger means movable into and out of the blind orifice tolock the turret in a rotated position, said locking finger means beingmovable out of the blind orifice by contact with the lever means whenthe lever means is moved in the direction for turret unclamping.

2. The vise of claim 1 wherein the screw means include a screw having aconical head and wherein the turret is provided with a cooperatingconical surface, the conical head bearing against the conical surface tolock the turret to the slide when the lever means is rotated in one ofthe said directions.

3. The vise of claim 1 wherein the locking finger means is continuouslyurged in a direction to contact the turret for locking purposes.

4. The vise of claim 1 wherein the locking, finger means includes a camhaving an inclined ramp, the said operating lever being in contact withthe inclined ramp to urge the locking finger out of the turret blindorifice when the lever is turned in the turret unclamping direction.

5. The vise of claim 1 wherein the turret is provided with a pluralityof blind orifices and wherein the locking finger means seats within onesaid recess to lock the turret against rotative movement when the leveris turned in the turret clamping direction.

6. The vise of claim 1 wherein the locking finger means is continuouslyurged into the blind orifice of the turret by a spring, said springbiasing between a portion of the slide and the locking finger means.

7. The vise of claim 6 wherein the locking finger means compresses thespring when the operating lever is turned in the turret unclampingdirection.

8. The vise of claim 5 wherein the blind orifices are positionedrespectively to align a movable jaw in parallel relationship to thefixed jaw.

9. The vise of claim 8 wherein the locking finger means is seated withinone of said orifices when the operatinng lever is rotated in the turretclamping direction to lock the turret to the slide.

10. The vise of claim 1 wherein the locking finger means contacts theturret outwardly of a said blind orifice when the operating lever isrotated in the turret clamping direction to lock the turret to the slidewherein the movable jaw is locked in non-parallel relationship to thefixed jaw.

11. The vise of claim 1 wherein the base is provided with an annulargroove and the framework is provided with an opening in radial alignmentwith the groove and locking means movable within the opening and intocontact with the groove to lock the framework to the base in a selectedangularly oriented position.

12. The vise of claim 11 wherein the opening is threaded and the lockingmeans are threadedly engaged within the opening.

13. The vise of claim 11 wherein the groove includes an inclined side, aportion of the locking means being in contact with the side for lockingpurposes.

14. The vise of claim 11 wherein the groove is trapezoidal in crosssectional configuration, and wherein the locking means is in angularcontact with the groove to force the framework downwardly relative tothe base.

15. The vise of claim 1 wherein the slide includes a longitudinal axis,a right side spaced to the right of the axis and a left side spaced tothe left of the axis and wherein the lever means is positioned withinthe space defined between the right and left sides in all positions asthe lever means is rotated in the said clockwise and counter-clockwisedirections.

1. In a vise including a fixed base and a framework affixed to the base wherein the framework carries a fixed jaw, the combination of A. a slide movable over the framework relative to the fixed jaw, B. a turret rotatably mounted on the slide,
 1. said turret including a plurality of movable jaws,
 2. said movable jaws being angularly offset one from the other,
 3. said turret having at least one blind orifice; C. screw means to clamp the turret to the slide in any angularly oriented position; D. lever means associated with the screw means to rotate the screw means in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction for turret clamping and unclamping actions, respectively, said lever means being rotatable in either direction relative to the slide; and E. locking finger means movable into and out of the blind orifice to lock the turret in a rotated position, said locking finger means being movable out of the blind orifice by contact with the lever means when the lever means is moved in the direction for turret unclamping.
 2. said movable jaws being angularly offset one from the other,
 2. The vise of claim 1 wherein the screw means include a screw having a conical head and wherein the turret is provided with a cooperating conical surface, the conical head bearing against the conical surface to lock the turret to the slide when the lever means is rotated in one of the said directions.
 3. The vise of claim 1 wherein the locking finger means is continuously urged in a direction to contact the turret for locking purposes.
 3. said turret having at least one blind orifice; C. screw means to clamp the turret to the slide in any angularly oriented position; D. lever means associated with the screw means to rotate the screw means in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction for turret clamping and unclamping actions, respectively, said lever means being rotatable in either direction relative to the slide; and E. locking finger means movable into and out of the blind orifice to lock the turret in a rotated position, said locking finger means being movable out of the blind orifice by contact with the lever means when the lever means is moved in the direction for turret unclamping.
 4. The vise of claim 1 wherein the locking finger means includes a cam having an inclined ramp, the said operating lever being in contact with the inclined ramp to urge the locking finger out of the turret blind orifice when the lever is turned in the turret unclamping direction.
 5. The vise of claim 1 wherein the turret is provided with a plurality of blind orifices and wherein the locking finger means seats within one said recess to lock the turret against rotative movement when the lever is turned in the turret clamping direction.
 6. The vise of claim 1 wherein the locking finger means is continuously urged into the blind orifice of the turret by a spring, said spring biasing between a portion of the slide and the locking finger means.
 7. The vise of claim 6 wherein the locking finger means compresses the spring when the operating lever is turned in the turret unclamping direction.
 8. The vise of claim 5 wherein the blind orifices are positioned respectively to align a movable jaw in parallel relationship to the fixed jaw.
 9. The vise of claim 8 wherein the locking finger means is seated within one of said orifices when the operatinng lever is rotated in the turret clamping direction to lock the turret to the slide.
 10. The vise of claim 1 wherein the locking finger means contacts the turret outwardly of a said blind orifice when the operating lever is rotated in the turret clamping direction to lock the turret to the slide wherein the movable jaw is locked in non-parallel relationship to the fixed jaw.
 11. The vise of claim 1 wherein the base is provided with an annular groove and the framework is provided with an opening in radial alignment with the groove and locking means movable within the opening and into contact with the groove to lock the framework to the base in a selected angularly oriented position.
 12. The vise of claim 11 wherein the opening is threaded and the locking means are threadedly engaged within the opening.
 13. The vise of claim 11 wherein the groove includes an inclined side, a portion of the locking means being in contact with the side for locking purposes.
 14. The vise of claim 11 wherein the groove is trapezoidal in cross sectional configuration, and wherein the locking means is in angular contact with the groove to force the framework downwardly relative to the base.
 15. The vise of claim 1 wherein the slide includes a longitudinal axis, a right side spaced to the right of the axis and a left side spaced to the left of the axis and wherein the lever means is positioned within the space defined between the right and left sides in all positions as the lever means is rotated in the said clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. 